JW MARRIOTT HOTEL PREMIERS IN NEW YORK CITY

Marriott Converts Rihga Royal, Continues Upper-Tier Brand Expansion

Marriott International (NYSE:MAR) announced the conversion of the former Rihga Royal hotel in New York City to its first JW Marriott brand hotel in Manhattan. The hotel has been purchased by Thayer Lodging Group of Annapolis, MD and will be managed by Marriott under a long-term agreement.

The 500-suite JW Marriott New York is in the heart of midtown Manhattan, on West 54th Street between Avenue of the Americas and Seventh Avenue. This property joins Marriott’s portfolio of ten New York City hotels, which collectively offer over 6,500 guestrooms.

“We are delighted to bring the first JW Marriott brand hotel to New York City,” said Roger Borsink, Marriott’s regional vice president for the New York market. “JW Marriott hotels are the most luxurious properties bearing the Marriott name. They build upon Marriott’s reputation for personal care and dependability, and extend to even higher levels of service and style.”

The JW Marriott New York is the seventh JW Marriott in the United States and the 14th property worldwide. It is Marriott’s strategy to develop the JW Marriott brand in gateway cities throughout the world, in established business destinations and emerging luxury markets. Marriott International expects a quarter of its unit growth in 2001 to be through conversions.

The 54-story hotel features guest suites that range from 500 square feet to 1,500 square feet on the more exclusive upper floors. All suites offer spacious living rooms, mirrored French doors that lead to separate bedrooms, as well as private dressing rooms and full marble baths. In-room amenities include fax machines, three telephones with two separate lines, computer and fax outlets, mini-bars with icemakers, in-room safes, two television sets, a videocassette player, in-room movie channels and more. Guests may enjoy lunch and dinner at Halcyon, a full-service restaurant, or breakfast, lunch and dinner daily in the lounge. Eleven meeting and banquet rooms can be reserved for private functions from 10 to 600 guests.

JW Marriott Hotels offer business and leisure travelers personalized service and luxurious, but understated environments. Dramatic architectural design, thoughtfully appointed guestrooms and suites, unique restaurants, state-of-the-art fitness centers, 24-hour business centers, and residential-style executive guest lounges distinguish the JW Marriott brand.

The first JW Marriott Hotel opened in 1984 on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., as a tribute to the founder of the Marriott Corporation, predecessor to Marriott International. Other JW Marriott Hotels in the United States include Santa Monica, Miami, Atlanta, Ko Olina/Hawaii, and Houston. Worldwide, JW Marriott Hotels can be found in Hong Kong, Quito, Kuala Lumpur, Mexico City, Seoul, Bangkok, and Dubai.